HIGHLIGHTS

Posing with animals like leopards and hyenas, using it as a display picture has put a senior officer in Rajasthan chief minister's office in trouble. Animal rights' activists sent a complaint to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) for violation of wildlife laws as he was clicked with the animals during the inauguration of Nahargarh Biological Park in Rajasthan.

As per the complaint sent to Ministry, Central Zoo Authority (CZA) and Delhi Police, a leopard and hyena cubs were allegedly abused by senior officers of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's office, including media advisor Mahendra Bhardwaj.

However, the CM's office has refuted the claim.

Delhi-based animal activist Naresh Kadyan in his complaint has mentioned that these cubs were displayed and exhibited before Chief Minister as well. She had gone to inaugurate Nahargarh Zoological Park last month, accompanied by senior bureaucrats.

Reacting to the complaint, Bhardwaj said facts are being 'fabricated' as he has not violated any law.

OFFICE CLAIMS NO ANIMAL WAS HURT

Speaking to Mail Today a senior official from the CM's office said no animal was hurt. "Picture with cubs were taken when the veterinarian could not handle two cubs together. He offered Bharadwaj to hold one and promptly his picture was taken. It is now being misused. Cubs were immediately put inside the cage."

A hyena and a leopard cub in a cage at the Nahargarh Biological Park, which was inaugurated by Rajasthan CM last month

Akanksha Chaudhary, deputy conservative forest wildlife, Jaipur zoo said the complaint is baseless and even claimed that the incident never took place.

"The situation arose when I tried contacting Bhardwaj and noticed that he is posing with a leopard cub in his WhatsApp profile picture," Kadyan told Mail Today.

Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje

"If the complaint is found true then it is punishable offense under section 51 of wildlife protection act, 1972. Only the zoo keeper and veterinarian can touch animals in the zoo," officer of CZA said.